A baby in Gaza died on Friday evening after medical equipment he was connected to switched off as a result of a power cut, a Hamas-affiliated TV channel said

Gaza
medical spokesman Adham Abu Salmiya confirmed the incident, adding that
the infant was born with respiratory problems and doctors had
recommended the use of mechanical breathing apparatus to be used at
home.

The
father of the child had turned on the apparatus before going to sleep
but during the night a power cut caused it to switch off, resulting in
the infant's death, Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV reported.

The
child was the "first victim of the current power crisis in Gaza," Abu
Salmiya said, warning that the medical sector in the coastal enclave is
in jeopardy.

Recent
fuel shortages have had a catastrophic effect on daily life in the Gaza
Strip, with people facing daily power cuts of up to 18 hours a day.